Fans turn out for the Mission Mountain NRA Rodeo

Jun. 29—Despite some showers on Friday, the grandstands at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Polson were packed June 23-24 for the Mission Mountain NRA Rodeo.

Spectators got their share of exciting rodeo action including bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, and bull riding. Big Circle Rodeo brought spectacular bucking horses and bulls to wow visitors.

Seven-year-old junior barrel racer Ryeitt Griffin, of Corvallis, won the crowd's heart when she came into the arena riding her big brown horse as fast as he could run. The women barrel racers came to run, with just .36 seconds separating the winner from the eighth place rider.

This year there was a special treat after the team roping when four young girls dressed in sparkly costumes took over the arena. With their horses blazing around the perimeter, the girls showed off their trick-riding skills. Ella Lund and Gracie Stolfus, both 14 and from Kalispell, and Audrey Snellman, 13 from Helena, performed vaults, hippodromes, one foot stands, and shoulder stands. All three girls learned from Madison McDonald Thomas, who's appeared 10 times at the National Final Rodeo and been named the top five acts of the year for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Joining the three Montana equestrians was Canadian trick rider Bella Da Costa, and her horse Big Tasty. The daredevil riders got lots of applause from rodeo fans.

To round out festivities on Friday, the band Western Front played for dancing and listening fun.

Rodeo results:

Bareback Bronc Riding: 1. Dalton May, Coram, 75 ($517); 2. Jordan Larson, Charlo, 70 ($387.75); 3. Trapper McAllister, Ronan, 69 ($258.50); 4. Colton Farrow, Greybull, 65 ($129.25).

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Hunter Haskins, Superior, 78 ($714.40); 2. Garrett Cunningham, Broadus, 75 ($535.80); 3. Wind Augare, Cut Bank, 68 ($357.20); 4. Levi Hurst, Kalispell, 60 ($178.60).

Bull Riding: 1. Devyn Hundley, Darby, 79 ($658); 2. Tahj Wells, Browning, 78 ($493.50); 3-4. J.R. Harrell, Toston, and Gavin Knutson, Polson; each scored 76 and won $246.75.

Steer Wrestling: 1. Garret Yeager, Choteau, 6.8 ($601.60); 2. Cole Patterson, Bozeman, 8.6 ($451.20); 3. Taten Erickson, Hobson, 13 ($300.80); 4. Ryder Gaasch, Dillon, 17.5 ($150.40).

Tie-Down Roping: 1. Gavin Beattie, Helena, 11.0 ($751.06); 2. Mitch Detton, Great Falls, 11.9 ($574.34); 3. Clint Craig, East Helena, 12.4 ($441.80); 4. Cash Trexler, Corvallis, 13.0 ($287.17); 5. Quinn McQueary, Belgrade, 13.1 ($154.63).

Team Roping: 1. Trapper McAllister/Jack McAllister, Hot Springs, 8.2 ($954.81); 2. Jeannie Hunter/Chad Hunter, Townsend, 8.7 ($730.15); 3. Chad Turner/Gavin Beattie, Helena, 10.2 ($561.65); 4. Mitch Detton/Walker Story, Martinsdale, 13.4 ($365.07); 5. Chris Westphal/Marion Eash, Fortine, 14.4 ($196.58).

Ladies Barrel Racing: 1. Celie Salmond, Choteau, 17.54 ($993.58); 2. Abby Knight, Charlo, 17.55 ($816.16); 3. Alexis McDonald, Gardiner, 17.66 ($638.73); 4. Darby Haskins, Superior, 17.68 ($461.31); 5. Molly Salmond, Choteau, 17.72 ($283.88).

Ladies Breakaway: 1 Molly Salmond, Choteau 2.6 ($1,092.28); 2. Charley Yeager, Choteau 2.7 ($897.23); 3-4. Nicole French, Stevensville, and Mylee Welch, Joliet, 2.8 ($604.66 apiece); 5. Celie Salmond, Choteau, 3.4 ($312.08).

Jr. Barrel Racing: 1. Sophia Neill, Whitefish; 2. Rylee Webb, Arlee; 3. Tye Brown, Helena; 4. Parker Lenhardt, Helena.

Jr. Breakaway Roping: 1. Shaylee Broere, Lima; 2. Saylor Langan, Glendive; 3. Royce Levine, Wolf Creek; 4. Zoey Bruyer, Kalispell.